Sri Lanka: Muslims fear more attacks during Friday prayers

Allegations have surfaced that security forces are failing to arrest perpetrators of attacks

Sri Lankan Muslims say they fear being attacked during Friday prayers by Sinhalese Buddhists, amid accusations that security forces are failing to take action against marauding mobs.

Despite a state of emergency and a curfew to curtail violence that broke out last weekend between Muslims and Buddhists in the central district of Kandy, concerns abound that attacks will continue in Sri Lanka.

On Thursday, the streets of most towns in Kandy were empty, except for police and soldiers. The violence and heavy security presence are largely limited to Sri Lanka's central hills.

Word is spreading among the Muslim community in Kandy that Buddhists are planning attacks in the area during Friday prayers.

Since the violence erupted, there have been repeated allegations that security forces have failed to arrest the perpetrators of attacks.

The government has suspended internet services in the area and blocked access to Facebook and other social media - including WhatsApp and Viber - in an attempt to halt organisers from planning more violence and spreading false rumours.

Religious violence is not new to the South Asian island nation of 21 million people. An anti-Muslim campaign was launched by hardline Buddhists following deadly riots in Aluthgama in June 2014.

President Maithripala Siresena had vowed to investigate anti-Muslim crimes after assuming power in 2015, but no significant progress has been reported so far.